Object number
54/728
Creator
Description
This jug was originally intended as a toast water jug, toast jug, or bread and water jug, which were used for pouring out water that had toast soaking in it. This was believed to have health giving properties, espcially for people who were unwell. It was later repurposed for serving lemonade made from fresh lemons. The strainer at the lip of the jug was intended to stop the soaked toast from being poured out with the water, and in the respurposed context would serve to stop the fruit from being poured into the glass. The jug itself is white, with blue images and patterns on the side, lip and handle. The image shows a three horses pulling a plough, and there are images of other rural objects around the outside. The jug features an impressed maker's mark reading 'BB' on the base. This may indicate that it was manufactured by Minton, during the early- to mid-nineteenth century The Museum holds little information about where it was used.
Physical description
1 jug: pottery; good condition
Archival history
MERL Miscelleanous Note - In 2024, in the course of correspondence relating to this jug and its provenance, the specialist Fiona McDonald reidentified this jug as a 'toast water', 'toast', or 'bread and water' jug. Having seen the jug on display she was keen ti find out more about its origins. She indicated that such jugs were never known as lemonade jugs, which is how the display interpretation describes the piece. Toast jugs of this kind allowed the user to pour water that had toast soaking in it, without pouring out the toast at the same time. Toast water was believed to have health-giving properties, especially for people who were unwell. The jug was identified at the time of its donation to the Museum as having been used for serving lemonade. Fiona McDonald also correctly suggested that there might be a maker's mark on the base. It was found to have an impressed maker's mark reading 'BB', which is indicative of the item having been made by Minton between circa 1830 and 1860. [Ollie Douglas, 20 December 2024]
Production date
1830-01-01 - 1860-12-31
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_712.tif - High resolution image
